U.S. patent number 8,311,252 [Application Number 12/444,413] was granted by the patent office on 2012-11-13 for hearing device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Phonak AG. Invention is credited to Erich Dittli, Christoph Leist, Daniel Mueller.
United States Patent |
8,311,252 |
Dittli , et al. |
November 13, 2012 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Hearing device
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a hearing device with
a main housing (10) to be worn behind the ear, a secondary housing
(20) separated thereof and to be arranged partly or completely
within the ear and a speaker, and a connecting element (30) being
arranged between the main housing (10). The secondary housing (20),
includes at least an electrical and/or an acoustical connection
between the speaker and the main housing (10). According to the
present invention, at least one damping element (44) is arranged
between the main housing (10) and the secondary housing (20). The
damping element (44) reduces or prevents the transfer of vibrations
between the microphone (15) and the speaker.
Inventors: |
Dittli; Erich (Reichenburg,
CH), Mueller; Daniel (Zuerich, CH), Leist;
Christoph (Rapperswil, CH) |
Assignee: |
Phonak AG (Staefa,
CH)
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Family
ID: |
38895933 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/444,413 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2007 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 10, 2007 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2007/060765 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
April 06, 2009 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2008/015295 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
February 07, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100111341 A1 |
May 6, 2010 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 11, 2006 [CH] |
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1621/06 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
381/324; 381/330;
381/322; 381/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R
25/456 (20130101); H04R 2225/0213 (20190501) |
Current International
Class: |
H04R
25/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;381/322,324,328,330 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1750480 |
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Feb 2007 |
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EP |
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2004025990 |
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Mar 2004 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report for PCT/EP2007/060765 dated Jan. 28,
2008. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Enad; Elvin G
Assistant Examiner: Talpalatskiy; Alexander
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Peare & Gordon LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Hearing device comprising: a main housing (10) to be worn behind
the ear, a secondary housing (20) separated thereof and to be
arranged partly or completely within the ear and comprising a
speaker, a connecting element (30) being arranged between the main
housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), comprising at least an
electrical and acoustical connection between the speaker and the
main housing (10), the connecting element is provided as a tube
(30), having on one end a connector part (12) that is mechanically
connectable with a socket (13) arranged at the main housing (10),
and at least one damping element (30;40;44;45;46) arranged between
the main housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), wherein the
damping element is provided as a head part (40) of the main housing
(10) and detachably and form-locking connected to the latter,
whereby the connector part (12) is form-locking insertable into an
opening (41) of the head part (40), and wherein the head part (40)
and the connector part (12) are fixed to each other by a pin (43)
arranged crosswise in relation to the insertion direction of the
connector part (12).
2. Hearing device comprising: a main housing (10) to be worn behind
an ear, a secondary housing (20) separated thereof and to be
arranged partly or completely within the ear and comprising a
speaker, a connecting element (30) being arranged between the main
housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), comprising at least an
electrical or an acoustical connection between the speaker and the
main housing (10), the connecting element is provided as a tube
(30), having on one end a connector part (12) that is mechanically
connectable with a socket (13) arranged at the main housing (10),
and at least one damping element (30;40;44;45;46) arranged between
the main housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), wherein the
damping element is provided as a head part (40) of the main housing
(10) and detachably and form-locking connected to the latter,
whereby the connector part (12) is form-locking insertable into an
opening (41) of the head part (40), and wherein the head part (40)
is fixed by a resilient snap-in pin (14) to the main housing
(10).
3. Hearing device comprising: a main housing (10) to be worn behind
an ear, a secondary housing (20) separated thereof and to be
arranged partly or completely within the ear and comprising a
speaker, a connecting element (30) being arranged between the main
housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), comprising at least an
electrical or an acoustical connection between the speaker and the
main housing (10), the connecting element is provided as a tube
(30), having on one end a connector part (12) that is mechanically
connectable with a socket (13) arranged at the main housing (10),
and at least one damping element (30;40;44;45;46) arranged between
the main housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), wherein the
damping element is arranged as a cap or bush (44) between the
surfaces facing each other of connector (12) and socket (13).
4. Hearing device comprising: a main housing (10) to be worn behind
an ear, a secondary housing (20) separated thereof and to be
arranged partly or completely within the ear and comprising a
speaker, a connecting element (30) being arranged between the main
housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), comprising at least an
electrical or an acoustical connection between the speaker and the
main housing (10), the connecting element is provided as a tube
(30), having on one end a connector part (12) that is mechanically
connectable with a socket (13) arranged at the main housing (10),
and at least one damping element (30;40;44;45;46) arranged between
the main housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), wherein the
damping element is arranged between the connector part (12) and a
head part (11) of the main housing (10) in an area of the socket
(13), and wherein the damping element is provided as a hollow
cylinder (45) with a collar abutting against the outside of the
head part (11).
5. Hearing device comprising: a main housing (10) to be worn behind
an ear, a secondary housing (20) separated thereof and to be
arranged partly or completely within the ear and comprising a
speaker, a connecting element (30) being arranged between the main
housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), comprising at least an
electrical or an acoustical connection between the speaker and the
main housing (10), the connecting element is provided as a tube
(30), having on one end a connector part (12) that is mechanically
connectable with a socket (13) arranged at the main housing (10),
and at least one damping element (30;40;44;45;46) arranged between
the main housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), wherein the
damping element is arranged between one end of the tube (30) and
the connector part (12).
6. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the damping element
is provided as a cylindrical bush (46).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a hearing device.
2. Description of Related Art
The term hearing device shall be understood as a device to be worn
at the vicinity or directly within the ear of a person to improve
the individual hearing capacity of this person. Such an improvement
may include the prevention of the receiving of certain acoustic
signals in terms of ear protection. In relation to the application
of such hearing devices they can be worn behind the ear (BTE),
within the ear (ITE) or completely within the ear (CIC).
Such hearing devices normally comprise of at least one microphone
as acoustic receiving element, a speaker as acoustic output element
and an electronic element connected with said microphone and said
speaker for the processing and inducement of electronic signals.
This electronic element may comprise analogue or digital signal
processing devices.
The main housing of BTE hearing devices which are worn behind the
ear may be connected to an ITE element, usually by a connection
channel. This connecting channel may be rigid, flexible or elastic
and may comprise besides electrical conduits acoustical conductive
channels as well.
On such hearing devices, the microphone may be arranged within the
main housing and the speaker within the ITE element. The connection
may be realized for instance through a tube that is detachably
connected with the main housing, as described for instance in WO
2004/025990, where the detachable connection is realized by an
electrically conductive plug-in connection.
One problem of such hearing devices is the acoustical and
mechanical feedback between microphone and speaker. This feedback
has to be damped, reduced or interrupted for a stable hearing
system. Commonly, the microphone and/or speaker will therefore be
resiliently supported or mounted respectively and a maximized
distance between microphone and speaker is intended. Such
provisions are restricted due to the high level of miniaturization,
the predetermined geometry and size of the individual auditory
canal and the size of the microphone and especially of the speaker.
Especially for designing the element as CIC element, e.g. to be
arranged completely within the auditory canal, there is hardly any
space for such a resilient suspension of the speaker.
Furthermore for such known arrangements, a mechanical coupling
consists between the main housing and the element through the
connection with a tube, thus always resulting in a mechanical
feedback. Frequently, vibrations will be inducted and transferred
to the microphone over the generally detachable connection between
the tube and the main housing.
BREIF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A problem to be solved by the present invention is finding a
hearing device that prevents or reduces mechanical feedback over
the connecting means between main housing and external speaker
element.
This problem is inventively solved by a hearing device according to
the present invention.
The hearing device with a main housing to be worn behind the ear, a
secondary housing separated thereof and to be arranged partly or
completely within the ear and comprising a speaker, and a
connecting element being arranged between the main housing and the
secondary housing, comprises at least an electrical and/or an
acoustical connection between the speaker and the main housing.
According to the present invention, at least one damping element is
arranged between the main housing and the secondary housing. The
damping element reduces or prevents the transfer of vibrations
between the microphone and the speaker. By arranging the damping
element between the main housing and the secondary housing, no
space for damping material will be required especially in the
secondary housing and therefore there is no drawback to the
miniaturization of the hearing device. This allows the application
of high-capacity speakers with its relative large natural
dimensions by utilizing practically the whole available volume
space of the secondary housing and although reliably reducing or
avoiding any mechanical feedback.
For instance the connecting element is provided as a tube, having
on one end a connector part that is mechanically connectable with a
socket arranged at the main housing. Therefore, a simple but
mechanical stable connection will be provided. The connector part
and socket may be configured as an electrical connection, to
connect the speaker with an electronic module of the hearing
device. Furthermore, at least one acoustically conductive
connection persistent between the main housing and the secondary
housing may be realized, i.e. in form of a tunnel or a pipe within
the tube. Such a connection may for instance be used as vent
between the secondary housing and the main housing.
The damping element is for instance provided as a head part of the
main housing and detachably and form-locking connected to the
latter, whereby the connector part is form-locking insertable into
an opening of the head part. Thus, the whole head part of the main
housing serves as damping part, which is highly efficient due to
its relative big size and therefore provides good damping
characteristics. The connection between connector part and socket
may be reduced solely to an electrical connection as the connector
part is form-locking connected to the head part, whereby practical
any mechanical feedback is avoided at that location.
For instance, head part and connector part are fixed to each other
by a pin arranged crosswise in relation to the insertion direction
of the connector part. The detachable connection is thereby fixed
in an easy and reliable manner. The connection is prevented from
self-loosening for instance by having the pin counterbored and
friction fitted within its opening of the head part.
The head part is for instance fixed by a resilient snap-in pin to
the main housing. Thereby, an easy connection is realized that is
optically invisible from the outside, if the snap-in pin is
arranged at the inner side of the housing of the head part.
Furthermore, the head part may be designed free with respect of its
size and shape and thereby may accomplish different optical
requirements.
In a further embodiment, the damping element is arranged as a cap
or bush between the surfaces facing each other of connector and
socket. This provides a mechanical separation of the direct
connection between connector and socket, whereby any possible
vibrations will not be transmitted from the connector to the socket
but will be absorbed by the damping element. Nevertheless, a
possible electrical connection between connector and socket remains
maintained.
In a further embodiment, the damping element is arranged between
the connector part and a head part of the main housing in the area
of the socket. Thus, a direct contact between the connector part
and the head part of the main housing is avoided and no mechanical
feedback channel will thus be established.
In another embodiment, the damping element is provided as a hollow
cylinder, preferably as a mushroom-shaped element with a collar
abutting against the outside of the head part. Such a part may
easily be inserted into the respective opening for the connector or
the tube respectively. The opening will furthermore be sealed due
to the mushroom-shaped design with the collar and thus no dirt or
moisture may intrude into the inside of the head part to damage for
instance the electrical connection between connector and
socket.
In a further embodiment, the damping element is arranged between
one end of the tube and the connector part. The mechanical feedback
path will thus be interrupted between the tube and the connector
part.
For instance, the damping element is provided as a cylindrical
bush. Such a bush is easily moved onto the tube and positioned at
the region of the connector part.
In another embodiment, the connecting element is provided as
damping element in form of a tube and having a connector part on
its one end that is mechanically connectable with a socket arranged
at the main housing. That means that the connector element as a
whole is laid-out to be a damping element, thus inhibiting the
generation, transmission and amplification of possible vibrations.
A high efficient mechanical damper will be achieved due to the huge
mass or volume respectively compared to other damping elements.
In a further embodiment, the damping element is designed as
vibration damper and is composed of a soft plastic. The
construction and configuration of the damping element is designed
such as to receive vibrations and thereby interrupts a possible
mechanical feedback path.
For instance, the material for the damping element is at least one
of the following plastics: polyamide 6.6 polyamide 12 polypropylene
polyurethane pebax TPE silicone.
It has been shown that these materials provide particular efficient
damping values and provide a high efficient mechanical damping
behavior.
In another embodiment, the damping element has a damping
coefficient of at least 0.1, preferably of at least 0.2, or
preferably of at least 0.25 or higher. The damping coefficient may
be calculated or determined respectively by use of finite element
analysis (FEA). A specific FEA model will be generated for the
hearing device concerned and the material properties will be
collected to determine the damping coefficient for the specific FEA
model. The following data have been obtained for an example of an
inventive hearing device with a connector tube serving as damping
element:
TABLE-US-00001 damping material coefficient Polyamide 12 0.25
Polypropylene 0.20 Polyurethan 0.17 Pebax 0.25
These determined data are suitable to be used in a specific FEA
model named "ALGOR".
Instead of using a hearing device to determine the damping
coefficient, other geometries, such as experimental geometries, may
be used as well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For purpose of facilitating and understanding of the invention,
there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings preferred
embodiments thereof to be considered in connection with the
following description.
FIG. 1 is a view of a common ITE hearing device with main housing
and secondary housing;
FIG. 2 is a view of the inventively designed connection part of the
connection means between main housing and secondary housing;
FIG. 3 is the view according to FIG. 2 in an alternative
embodiment;
FIG. 4 is the view according to FIG. 2 in a further alternative
embodiment; and
FIG. 5 is the view according to FIG. 2 in a further alternative
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 depicts a common BTE hearing device with a main housing 10
and an ITE element as secondary housing 20, which are connected to
each other via a tube 30 as connecting element.
The head part 11 is arranged as a pyramidal shaped hollow body on
one end of main housing 10, with the tube 30 being inserted through
the cone end towards the inner side of head part 11. The end of
tube 30 is provided by a connector part 12 receiving the electrical
contacts of the conductor cables arranged within tube 30 that are
electrically connected to a socket 13 arranged at the main housing
10. The connector part 12 is thereby form-locking and force-locking
connected to socket 13 and absorbs as well the mechanical forces
impacting onto tube 30 and transmits them to the main housing 10.
Vibrations will thereby transmitted as well directly from the main
housing 10 onto the tube 30 and vice-versa, thus providing a
mechanical feedback path between the speaker (not shown in FIG. 1)
arranged in the secondary housing and the microphone 15 arranged in
the main housing 10.
By arranging a damping element 40 according to the present
invention in form of a common head part of the main housing 10, as
depicted in FIG. 2, the mechanical feedback path will be
interrupted. The connector part 12 is provided with nuts or grooves
12' at its outer surface that matches form-locking to the insertion
opening 41 of the damping element 40. Thus, a form-locking and
force-locking connection between the connector part 12 and the
damping element 40 will be achieved. The transmission of vibrations
from tube 30 to the main housing 10 and vice-versa will thus be
reliably avoided and thereby the generation of a mechanical
feedback path between microphone and speaker avoided. Furthermore,
a positioning help for the connector part 12 is realized by
accordingly arranging nuts or grooves 12' respectively which
prevents a wrong mounting of connector part 12.
A bore or opening 42 respectively is arranged at the damping
element 40 crosswise in relation to the insertion direction of
connector part 12, for the insertion of a pin 43 for locking the
connector part 12 within the damping element 40. A friction-fit is
provided between the bore or opening 42 and the pin 43 for
preventing the pin 43 of being independently shifted and to provide
a reliable fixing of the connector part 12 within the damping
element 40.
This pin 43 may be used as well for locking the damping element 40
at the main housing 10, for instance by providing a nut 13' on the
socket 13.
The damping element 40 may be attached onto the main housing 10 for
instance by one or several resilient snap-in pins 14 arranged
sideways of head part 40.
FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of the present invention wherein
the damping element is provided as a cap or bush 44 to be slid onto
socket 13. A damping layer will therefore be provided between the
surfaces facing each other of connector pin 12 and socket 13
preventing the formation of a feedback path at this place. The head
part 11 may be shaped in common manner or may serve additionally to
the cap or bush 44 as a damping element analogue to the damping
element 40 according to FIG. 2 for supporting the damping
action.
FIG. 4 depicts a further embodiment of the present invention with
the damping element designed as mushroom-shaped hollow cylinder 45.
The hollow cylinder 45 is inserted into the opening 11' of head
part 11 and serves as a damping layer between the outside of
connector part 12 and the inside of the head part 11. Therefore, no
mechanical feedback path may be established at this location. A
collar 45' is provided at the outside of the end of hollow cylinder
45 for preventing or at least reducing the penetration of dirt and
moisture through the opening 11' into the inside of head part
11.
In this configuration, the head part 11 may as well consist of a
common layout or be an inventive damping element.
In FIG. 5 is again depicted another embodiment of the present
invention. A damping element in form of a cylindrical bush 46 is
arranged at the end of tube 30 on its outside or outer wall
respectively. This bush 46 receives vibrations and thereby
interrupts a possible mechanical feedback path between tube 30 and
connector part 12.
This damping element 46 may be used alone or in combination with
the antecedent described damping elements 40, 44, 45.
* * * * *